Your loved one may be in need of a Guardian if you can answer yes to any of the following questions:

Do you know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia and is unable to make their own medical or financial decisions? ​

Do you know an elderly person who is susceptible to fraud and undue influence, whether it be by a family member, caretaker, or “new friend?”

Do you know someone who was born with Down Syndrome and is over or about to turn 18-years-old?

Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with a Mental Illness and is not always able to make their own medical or financial decisions?

Do you know of a minor child (a child under the age of 18) whose parent or parents are recently deceased?

Do you know someone who is suffering from a medical or physical disability that has left them unable to care for themselves?

A Guardianship is a legal process that is used when one can no longer make safe or sound decisions about his or her person or property. Keep in mind that even though you feel someone is incapacitated and not able to make their own decisions, this does not make it so. The only way a person can be declared legally incapacitated is through the legal process of a Guardianship. With that being said, we consider a Guardianship to be the last resort. It can be a time consuming and expensive process. Because of this, there are a few alternatives that you may want to consider first.